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Metallica's James Hetfield Embraces Straight Edge Symbol

Posted on May 31st 2010 11:00AM by Amy Sciarretto Comments

Long-defunct hardcore band Bold proclaimed 'Nailed to the X' as a battle cry for the youth of today to embrace clean living. In honor of his hard fought battle from staring down the neck of a bottle to sobriety -- hey, they weren't called Alcoholica for nothing -- Metallica singer/guitarist James Hetfield is fully embracing that same clean and sober lifestyle.

Hetfield revealed to So What!, the Metallica fan club publication, that he has a new tattoo and it's one that has long defined the straight edge/hardcore lifestyle. Hetfield had an 'X' inked onto his hand. He explained to the magazine that the tatt represents the mark that bouncers etch onto the hands of underage patrons at shows so that bartenders know they can't serve them!

Any self-respecting hardcore fan worth their salt knows that the straight edge scene has been adopting this symbol for years, scrawling the backs of their hands with the "X" to show their chosen straight edge lifestyle, whether they were 21 or not. However, Hetfield is well aware of the symbol's longstanding meaning to the hardcore scene and said that his new ink does not mean he is christening himself as straight edge! He said he does not need drugs or drinks any longer, but that he does not classify as sXe, since a true straight edge person "has never had any of it in his or her whole life." He also called himself a "reborn straight edge."

While some militant, elitist sXe kids might be quick to criticize Hetfield's new ink, I'm proud of him. He's shining a spotlight on an alternative lifestyle and his sobriety did not come easy, so let's give the man some credit for getting himself to a better place and for being educated about a counter cultural movement and talking about it to people who may not have known it existed.

In other Hetfield news, you can view the trailer for 'Absent,' the documentary about the unfillable emotional hole that absentee fathers leave in their children's lives, which features the Metallica main man. In the clip, Hetfield talks about how his father abandoned him without saying goodbye, leaving a note that wasn't even addressed to him. He also mentions how his father's leaving prevented him from learning how to step up and be a man. The filmmakers were granted usage of Metallica lyrics and songs, and Hetfield even contributes a voice-over in the film.

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Filed under: News, Metal Minutia

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Arianne Burchett

If you are for real James...I am at 3710 East Glenrosa #2 and will go to a "meeting" every day for the rest of my life. So will my daughter and everyone else I know who is trying to get out of this prison. Please.I promise.

January 27 2013 at 1:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Arianne Burchett

I am going through major withdrawls at this very second. It helps to hear "Nothing Else Matters" which is why I am going through this excruciating pain...but I also have to listen to "Master of Puppets" to remind me of what I am being controlled by. I would like to find Mr. Hetfields email to communicate with him. I don't know why it is something I need. I am going into treatment on Monday. for my family. I have always been the strong "dorky" one but I somehow got trapped into this prison...not thinking I could ever be trapped. Always thought not me.....it only happens to other people...i can handle this...until the needle. The needle of mental death. I just want to hear from him so I know he is for real.

January 27 2013 at 1:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Hi Ralph

Lame... Metallica is one of my favorite bands but this is one of the lamest things to be announced. It's cool if he quit drinking and doing drugs but to associate himself with a stupid culture is fucking retarded. xMetallicAx... Even though I'm not a huge fan of Death Magnetic, I thought of it as a stepping stone into the right direction. Now I think Metallica took a step back and I can't imagine the next album being any good...

May 31 2010 at 12:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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